Marketing Communications Strategist

Summary

Duke University is a leading research university whose Center for Teaching and Learning advances teaching excellence, educational innovation, and lifelong learning. The Marketing Communications Strategist will lead digital-first communications and marketing strategies, manage websites and social channels, create multimedia content, and execute enrollment campaigns for Duke’s online educational programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of comprehensive communications strategies that advance the Center for Teaching and Learning's mission, strategic priorities, programs, and services. Collaborate with leadership and internal teams to identify objectives, target audiences, key messages, tactics, and success measures for communications initiatives
• Manage and continuously enhance CTL's digital presence, including the CTL and Online Duke websites. Develop content strategies that ensure content is engaging, accessible, current, and aligned with organizational goals. Partner with internal stakeholders and external vendors to create compelling digital experiences and multimedia content that effectively communicate CTL's impact and services
• Monitor website performance and audience engagement using analytics and reporting tools. Evaluate trends, user behavior, and campaign performance to identify opportunities for optimization and recommend improvements that support operational and strategic goals
• Design and execute recruitment marketing campaigns for digital education programs using email marketing, paid advertising, social media, search marketing, and multimedia content. Collaborate with program leadership to support enrollment goals, track campaign effectiveness, and adjust targeting, messaging, and budget allocations based on performance outcomes
• Develop and manage social media strategies that increase awareness of Duke's educational innovation initiatives, faculty accomplishments, and learner success stories. Create written, visual, and multimedia content that engages internal and external audiences while measuring audience growth, engagement, and conversion metrics
• Build relationships with Duke faculty to strengthen CTL's faculty-facing brand and increase engagement with teaching and learning initiatives. Identify opportunities to spotlight innovative teaching practices, educational research, and faculty achievements through strategic communications and storytelling
• Coordinate communications activities related to CTL programs, events, and initiatives. Partner with faculty, learners, staff, leadership, and communicators across the university to ensure consistent messaging and effective promotion of key projects and organizational priorities
• Establish and maintain strong collaborative relationships with university communications teams, key stakeholders, and leaders throughout Duke University and Duke University Health System. Serve as a communications partner on university-wide initiatives and coordinate media inquiries and news opportunities with the Office of News & Communications
• Monitor developments and emerging trends in higher education, educational technology, digital learning, and related fields. Translate insights into strategic recommendations that strengthen communications efforts and position CTL as a leader in teaching excellence and educational innovation

Skills

• Generally requires a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or a related field
• Four years of professional experience in journalism, public relations, marketing, communications, or a related field
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for a program, department, organization, or brand
• Experience planning and executing digital marketing campaigns
• Experience monitoring campaign performance metrics and using data to optimize results
• Experience creating, managing, and publishing content through digital platforms and content management systems
• Strong storytelling ability with experience developing content for multiple audiences and communication channels
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to evaluate communications effectiveness and make recommendations for improvement
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and professionalism in a highly collaborative environment
• Ability to work effectively under deadlines and manage competing priorities
• Demonstrated success using digital media and social media to engage audiences and support organizational goals
• Experience building collaborative relationships with faculty, leadership, media partners, and stakeholders
• Experience working in higher education, academic institutions, or mission-driven organizations
• Knowledge of trends in online learning, educational technology, and higher education
• Experience with photography, graphic design, multimedia production, or video storytelling
• Experience with web design and user-focused digital content strategies
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, customer service, inclusion, continuous learning, and creative problem-solving

Qualifications

Must Haves

• Generally requires a Bachelor's degree in Journalism, Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, English, or a related field
• Four years of professional experience in journalism, public relations, marketing, communications, or a related field
• Experience developing and executing communications strategies for a program, department, organization, or brand
• Experience planning and executing digital marketing campaigns
• Experience monitoring campaign performance metrics and using data to optimize results
• Experience creating, managing, and publishing content through digital platforms and content management systems
• Strong storytelling ability with experience developing content for multiple audiences and communication channels
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
• Strong analytical and organizational skills with the ability to evaluate communications effectiveness and make recommendations for improvement
• Ability to exercise sound judgment and professionalism in a highly collaborative environment
• Ability to work effectively under deadlines and manage competing priorities

Nice to Haves

• Demonstrated success using digital media and social media to engage audiences and support organizational goals
• Experience building collaborative relationships with faculty, leadership, media partners, and stakeholders
• Experience working in higher education, academic institutions, or mission-driven organizations
• Knowledge of trends in online learning, educational technology, and higher education
• Experience with photography, graphic design, multimedia production, or video storytelling
• Experience with web design and user-focused digital content strategies
• Demonstrated commitment to collaboration, customer service, inclusion, continuous learning, and creative problem-solving

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical and dental care programs for eligible team members
• Generous retirement benefits for eligible team members
• A wide array of family-friendly and cultural programs for eligible team members
• Remote-first work model with occasional meetings scheduled on campus